System and method for content sharing

Abstract

A video content system includes a head end server module and a content-sharing server coupled to a video content network. Also included is a converged premises gateway module coupled to the video content network at a location remote from the head end server module and the content-sharing server. The converged premises gateway module includes a processor and a video content network interface coupled to the processor and the video content network and configured for communication with the head end server module over the video content network. The gateway module also includes a memory module having a predetermined storage location for content to be shared with the content-sharing server and a local area network configured at least for distribution of video content within the remote location. The system further includes an upload module configured to cause the content in the predetermined storage location to be uploaded to the content-sharing server.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A video content system comprising:
 a head end server module; 
 a content-sharing server; 
 a video content network coupled to said head end server module and said content-sharing server; 
 a converged premises gateway module coupled to said video content network at a client-side environment remote from said head end server module and said content-sharing server, said converged premises gateway module in turn comprising:
 a processor; 
 a video content network interface coupled to said processor and said video content network and configured for communication with said head end server module over said video content network; 
 a memory module having a predetermined storage location for content; 
 
 a local area network interface configured at least for distribution of video content within said client-side environment; and 
 an upload module configured to cause said content in said predetermined storage location to be synchronized to said content-sharing server of an operator of said video-content network; 
 wherein: 
 said memory module comprises at least non-volatile memory; 
 said predetermined storage location comprises at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory; 
 said converged premises gateway module executing a client process receiving data from and sending data to a server process executing on said content-sharing server and processing at least one license of said content, said client process acting as a proxy for said server process; 
 said upload module is configured to periodically scan said at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory for said content stored in said at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory and cause said content to be synchronized with content stored on said content-sharing server for sharing said content to a location outside said client-side environment. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said head end server module and said content-sharing server are collocated in a head end of said video content network. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said content-sharing server is located remotely from said head end server module at a location associated with a third party service provider. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said content to be shared comprises user-generated content. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said content-sharing server comprises an associated access-control module limiting Internet-access to said content uploaded to said content-sharing server to a pre-determined entity outside said client-side environment. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein said access-control module is configured to permit write access to said content-sharing server by said pre-determined entity. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said content-sharing server is Internet-accessible. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said content-sharing server is accessible to persons wishing to access said content to be shared via said video content network. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said upload module comprises a push agent executable on said processor of said gateway module. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said upload module comprises a pull module accessible to said content-sharing server. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said upload module is configured to cause said content in said predetermined storage location to be uploaded to said content-sharing server over said video content network. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said gateway module further comprises a telephony interface in data communication with said video content network interface, said telephony interface being configured to transmit packetized voice data to said head end server module via said video content network interface. 
     
     
       13. A method for sharing content from a converged premises gateway module coupled to a video content network having a head end server module, to a content-sharing server, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one user premises with said converged premises gateway module, said user premises being a client-side environment remote from said content-sharing server and said head end server module, said converged premises gateway module comprising:
 a processor; 
 a video content network interface coupled to said processor and said video content network for communication with said head end server module over said video content network; 
 a memory module having a predetermined storage location for content; and 
 a local area network interface configured at least for distribution of video content within said user premises; 
 
 storing said content in said predetermined storage location; and 
 causing said content in said predetermined storage location to be synchronized to said content-sharing server; 
 wherein: 
 said memory module comprises at least non-volatile memory; 
 said predetermined storage location comprises at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory; 
 further comprising: 
 executing a client process receiving data from and sending data to a server process executing on said content-sharing server and processing at least one license of said content, said client process acting as a proxy for said server process; 
 periodically scanning said content stored in said at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory; and 
 causing said content stored in said at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory to be synchronized with content stored on said content-sharing server for sharing said content to a location outside said client-side environment. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said head end server module and said content-sharing server are collocated in a head end of said video content network. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said content-sharing server is located remotely from said head end server module at a location associated with a third party service provider. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said content to be shared comprises user-generated content. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of causing said content in said predetermined storage location to be synchronized with content stored on said content-sharing server comprises a push agent executable on said processor periodically scanning said at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory for new content and causing said new content to be synchronized with said content-sharing server. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of causing said content in said predetermined storage location to be synchronized with content stored on said content-sharing server comprises a pull module accessible to said content-sharing server periodically scanning said at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory for new content and causing said new content to be synchronized with said content-sharing server. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the additional steps of:
 accepting upload of additional content to be shared to said content-sharing server from a location outside said user premises; and 
 causing said additional content in said content-sharing server to be downloaded to said memory module. 
 
     
     
       20. A converged premises gateway module for interconnection with a content-sharing server and a video content network having a head end server module, at a client-side environment remote from said content-sharing server and said head end server module, said converged premises gateway module comprising:
 a processor; 
 a video content network interface coupled to said processor and configured for coupling to the video content network and for communication with the head end server module over the video content network; 
 a memory module having a predetermined storage location for content; 
 a local area network interface configured at least for distribution of video content within said client-side environment; 
 a proxy module executing a client process receiving data from and sending data to a server process executing on said content-sharing server and processing at least one license of said content, said client process acting as a proxy for said server process; and 
 an agent executable on said processor and configured to cause said content in said predetermined storage location to be synchronized to the content-sharing server over the video content network for sharing said content to a location outside said client-side environment; 
 wherein: 
 said memory module comprises at least non-volatile memory; 
 said predetermined storage location comprises at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory; and 
 said agent is configured to periodically scan said content stored in said at least one pre-determined directory of said non-volatile memory and cause said content to be synchronized with content stored on the content-sharing server. 
 
     
     
       21. The module of  claim 20 , further comprising a telephony interface in data communication with said video content network interface, said telephony interface being configured to transmit packetized voice data to the head end server module via said video content network interface.